Porsche 911 Carrera Cabriolet revealed

Porsche has released the first pictures of the new 911 Carrera Cabriolet, which will debut at the Detroit Motor Show in January.

It arrives in UK showrooms on 3 March, with prices starting at £79,947 for the standard 350bhp 3.4-litre Carrera, rising to £89,740 for the range-topping 400bhp 3.8-litre Carrera S. There will be a choice of a seven-speed manual gearbox or a PDK seven-speed semi-automatic.

 In keeping with tradition, Porsche has chosen a fabric top for its latest convertible, rather than a folding metal roof as fitted to main rival the Mercedes SL.

The folding mechanism is made of magnesium to save weight, while aerodynamics are improved by the smooth profile of the lowered roof.

What’s more, its shape has been carefully engineered to exactly match the plunging roofline of the coupe when it’s in place. The cabriolet features the same aluminium and steel body construction and advanced traction control systems as its hard-top equivalent.

There are no pictures of the roof mid-fold, but as on previous 911 Cabriolets, the electrically operated hood concertinas and is then stored beneath a cover ahead of the engine.

Porsche is promising that this 991 version will be the best-handling Cabriolet yet, thanks to its lower kerbweight, wider front track, stiffer body and longer wheelbase.

Carbon-ceramic brakes will be offered as an option to improve stopping power, while the rear wing adjusts its position when the roof is down to maximise downforce.

The car also offers a host of driver assistance systems, such as PASM (Porsche Active Suspension Management) and PTV (Porsche Torque Vectoring), which controls the amount of power fed to each wheel in order to increase cornering speeds.

The performance-orientated Sport Chrono pack lowers the car’s suspension by 20mm.

POWER AND EFFICIENCY TO THE PEOPLE WITH THE NEW 2012 RENALUT MEGANE

With a total of 730,000 units sold, Renault is betting on their affordable and hugely popular Megane when it comes to sales. So keeping up on the quality, refinement and reliability is crucial for the annual revenue. The MY 2012 Megane receives minor changes on the outside and inside and it also debuts three new start/stop engines which return stunning fuel economy figures.

The exterior changes are pretty standard with the LED daytime running lights, a black glossy bumper with chrome lining and a complete revision on wheel selection. Inside new trim levels are available including a two-toned leather pack available for customers in the UK.

Newly F1-engineer-developed engines are now being employed in the fresh lineup of MY 2012 Meganes. We have two downsized diesels – a 1.5 dCi with 260 Nm of torque, 110 hp and a whopping figure of 80.7 mpg (combined). Carbon dioxide emissions are down to  90g/km. Then there’s the 1.6 dCi with 130 hp, 320 Nm of torque and a combined fuel range of 70 mpg. That fuel efficiency is courtesy to the Stop & Start and brake energy recuperation systems that come with the diesels.

Th engine that takes the spotlight however, is the TCe 115 – this is the first petrol engine in a Renault that incorporates direct injection and a turbocharger at the same time. The engine block is 400 cubic centimetres smaller than the previous 1.6 16-valved one but overall power is up by 5 hp making a total of 115 hp. In fact, it is said to be the most powerful 1.2 engine in the world. And as it turns out it may be the most economical as well for it too makes use of the Start & Stop system usually reserved for diesels. Therefore we have 53.3 mpg on the combined cycle and 119 g/km of carbon dioxide emissions.

Worry not because, cleverness goes beyond the engine bay as the Megane has some neat driver aids like the Hill Start Assist function which holds down the brakes for a while on attempting to start off on a steep hill. The decision to let in air from outside or cycle the one inside is left to a computer which measures the air quality of the surrounding air. The Renault Visio System on the other hand is basically a camera attached to the rear-view mirror, scanning the road ahead and alarming for things like lane changing etc. It also analyses the visibility conditions outside and decides alone when to put on high-beams or low-beams.

The R.S. Line also gets an update with new a new leathery interior sewn by red stitching, a sportier steering wheel, branded door sill guards and a distinctive dashboard trim strip – the genetic code of the Renaultsport dynasty. On the outside, the R.S. gets specially designed, curvy LED lights which further assert the MY 2012 Megane’s aggressive stance.

And now there’s an anniversary model called the Renaultsport 265 and as the name suggests it develops 265 hp (15 more than the previous one). Further down the road, for a more complete sporty feel, the engineers at Renault have fiddled with the exhaust system with the result being a more satisfying tone. Distinctive features of the 265 include an F1 styled front blade garnished with rows of LED’s, and fresh 18 inch wheels as well as the 19 inch ones now incorporate R.S branding at their centres. Customers can op for redlining on the diffuser, front blade and the side sills while inside a two tone leather upholstery can be added consisting of light grey and charcoal.

Source: Renault

MINI to unveil new cargo van at 2012 Geneva Motor Show

UK-based vehicle manufacturer MINI is planning to unveil a new cargo van called MINI Cargo at the Geneva Motor Show in March, 2012.

MINI Cargo, the panel van will be based on the Clubman's stretched platform, with the rear seats removed to create a flat cargo area and a sheet metal, which will replace the blocked off rear windows.

The company said that the debut represents offers by parent BMW to remain competitive and preempt the similarly-minded Fiat 500 Giardinetta Wagon.

According to the vehicle manufacturer the new model will provide a rather small, but flat loading bay, suitable for businesses such as pizza delivery.